The month so far

This month has been a month of many highlights for my husband and me. February started with both of us starting our new jobs. He wasn't exactly new to his, as he was already working at this resto for a few weeks then, but Feb. 1 marked his first day there as the regular chef after being 'bought out' from the agency that first placed him there. Hmm, only comes to show my chef is no regular chef. (Ears clapping now.)

On the second week, I was offered the dispensary assistant position in the pharmacy. It was actually the position that I was eventually going to fill in, but not until I had finished the six-week course. Bev decided that I would have better appreciation of the course if I had the experience first. This had since given me more than I had expected, since it's also refreshing me of the practice and much more!

Just through the third week, Lashan moved out to transfer to another flat. He now lives with Yasas, who used to share it with another friend who has returned to Sri Lanka. It had been an impending self-initiated move for Lashan for many months --delayed mostly by my own insistence at the start that the chef and I could save up with a flatmate. With our new jobs and a new place for Lashan, blessings and coincidence couldn't have come at a better time. Miss Lashan? Nah. But yeah!, if he lived more than 50 paces from here.

There is so much space, and now so much to fill! On the brighter side, there is so much to look forward to. It's been a refreshing move for all of us, and we're all excited about new arrangements, new additions, and new experiences.

So far, so good.

***

Today is my sister's birthday. She's turning... whoa! Are we supposed to say it here? Well, she definitely looks younger than her years. Happy birthday, Ate!

Sacrifice box

Yesterday was the birth of our sacrifice box, which is essentially just a box wrapped in fancy paper with a narrow slot big enough to accept a hundred dollar note-- although any size of note would be most welcomed too. :) Its seal is not guaranteed to be theft-proof-- only a couple of cellotape layers!--but it should work its purpose in the absence of Temptation.

Apart from the savings accounts we keep in the bank, a piggy bank in a form of a box is still a good way to keep us from spending money on our hands. It is indeed a 'sacrifice', as we challenge ourselves to start the week following every Sunday we put in our 'sacrifice', with less money in our pockets. I am looking forward to less weekday shopping from the chef. Hehehe.

In fairness to him, he was able to contribute really really well and far better than I have for last night's first sacrifice. But the important thing is we have put in whatever we had then. We hope it works for a long, long time.

A day in the Bahamas

It had been on the local newsletters for some time, and now it's finally here. As part of the preparation for the Commonwealth Games, Victorian councils have adopted a Commonwealth nation to learn about these other nations. Our council's adopted country is the Bahamas.

It's basically a family day, with lots of entertainment for kids and kids-at-heart alike. Far better than expected, the venue was moved to the park closest to us, so the chef and I had the chance to peek at the celebration. I think we had arrived too early for most of the activities, but we've managed to capture some events on cam.

Melbourne Motor show

We're posting pictures of some of the cars on display at the Motor Show. My husband had been wanting me to see it with him, as he had always gone to this event. It was my first time when we went last Monday. Like a kid in a candy shop, wide-eyed and full of oooh's and aaah's, my camera went clicking here and there.

Valentine's Day learning tip: Never ask where the rose came from

He was comfortably spread out on the bed, watching cricket, when I arrived. He slightly props himself up as I bend over to give him a kiss and a welcome hug (for myself). We exchange summaries of the day, and then fell silent as Sri Lanka's turn ended. Change channel.

Sitting up, he moves himself down at the foot of the bed beside me as the 6 pm news came on. My head is on his shoulder, tired and just glad to be home. The other eye is shut but somehow I manage some yeahs and nays as he comments on the news. He usually never went beyond the third headline, so it is a surprise to have him still there even commenting on RU 486. Unreal.

Fifth headline. Shifting in his seat. He must be bored by now. Then...

"I got you a rose."

"You did?" as if it was the most impossible thing for him to do. (Ok, kind of.)

He reaches for what looked like a bunch of gold mesh wrapped with a colourless acetate from the tv top. He hands it to me with much expectation for a squeal or something. I let one out. Sincerely. This is just so... uh... exciting. Oh, there! A shivering red bud inside. Hmm. He must have been hoping I'd spot that on the telly. Nice try on RU 486.

"Thanks," as I inspect for a card. None. "This is really sweet of you," reaching for another hug and kiss. "Extras from the function?" I kidded.

"No."

She-devil kids again, "Where's the card?"

"No, there was no card."

'Was,' meaning it came from somewhere. This is killing me. "Someone gave it to you?" this time pointing to the torn flower farm sticker, where something seems to have been ripped off.

"No. I took off the price tag."

Hmm, guess again. I don't know why I was torturing him, but lucky me, he wasn't taking it any way I wouldn't want him to. So, low as a low blow can get, "Safeway?"

"Yeah."

Oh.


(You still get A for effort, my monstercake. -babycake)

Job enquiry

"What is the age requirement to deliver drugs?"

Hmm. That sounded like a big question from such a little voice. Big question, indeed, and it was from behind the dispensary counter. A headful of curly blond with a pair of enthusiastic eyes. He was holding his cycling helmet to his chest, as if his fingers were pressing all nervousness on to it.

"12," said Bev and Tamara, our pharmacy assistant, almost in unison.

Then Bev added, "I think you still have got a long way to go,... what's your name?" and which I barely heard from my bench. I think I was deafened by the awe of it all. I have no recollection of sometime in my childhood, wanting to earn at such young age. Well, yeah, but we used Mom's capital on baking ingredients, so I guess, that was just break even or worse.

"I'm almost 12, and got a bike." Almost there, kiddo.

Now Bev explains that the position's filled with six boys taking turns during the week. (Hmm, I thought there were only four.) Anyway, just to keep his hopes up, "Say, come again in 4 months. That time one of the boys will be old enough to do the job, and if you come in at the right time, you just might get it."

"Ok. I'll see you in July." Turns around with his backpack almost touching the back of his knees.

Ok, he really didn't look his age, but brave. Very brave.

It looked like I wasn't the only one amazed by it. Somehow, it had lifted our stress for the day, and Bev was all asmiling. Isn't it fascinating?, she kept saying. Indeed.

New order

Here's something for my friends who have recently moved in to their new homes. :)

lifted from the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Complementary Medicine

Feng shui re-Oriented

A leaflet from a 'feng shui strategy' group has appeared under my front door. It is like having a plastic surgeon hand me his card and say, "Call me'.

Against my better judgment, my better half took the offer. A week later, we had a person with a very impressive compass roaming our home, inspecting long-neglected closets and gathering obscure personal details.

A week later, she reappeared with a colleague to deliver the verdict. With the house three degrees off its true orientation for prosperity, and use of the back door to our yard forbidden because of an energy leak, things were looking grim. I was pleased to learn that a Sony hi-fi system improved the energy in theliving area, although I was unclear how the ancient tradition reached such a brand-specific conclusion.

My wife and I are also apparently (very)i different, with ideal sleeping orientation almost 180 degrees apart. Rather than be relegated to the couch, I offered to sleep head down, given certain concessions. Or indulgences.

By the end of negotiations, our geographic gurus were gone. And the couch is reasonably comfortable.

Food blogs

I woke up today 'craving' to pour out my thoughts and spill some good news here, but my fingers seem to be rusty now. After this, I should be preparing for work anyway. I shall get to that later. But just to fill in some good news, we're sharing our recent discovery: food blogs. Please find some Aussie food blogs listed on our sidebar.

Food blogs was a feature in this month's Gourmet Magazine. It's amazing to find how some foodies out there are devoted to this kind of blogging. For us common consumers-- who aren't necessarily resto hoppers-- it's a terrific way of finding out which places and which amongst their menu items to dare try!